PLAID CYMRU has turned down a bequest from alleged paedophile John Owen, it emerged last night.

PLAID CYMRU has turned down a bequest from alleged paedophile John Owen, it emerged last night.

The party was left the money in Mr Owen's will after he killed himself in October last year, the day before he was due to stand trial accused of sexually abusing four boys.

Last night the party would not say why it had turned down the bequest. But had Plaid Cymru accepted the money it would have been bound to have caused a furore among those who claim he abused them.

A Plaid Cymru spokeswoman said, "In the light of the Clywch Inquiry, Plaid Cymru will be making no further comment on this matter."

The inquiry was set up last November by Children's Commissioner Peter Clarke in the wake of the allegations that the award-winning creator of Pam fi Duw? sexually abused four pupils when he was a drama teacher at Rhydfelen Comprehensive School, near Pontypridd.

It was dramatically adjourned less than a fortnight ago when police announced they were looking into fresh allegations about a teacher.